Former M.V.C.W.C. - HERALD ARTICLE ARCHIVE

"Built Upon Bedrock"
by Kelly Purvis

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah; but still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Jesus said to them,

"BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"

Simon Peter answered,

"YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD."

And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you Simon BarJonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I say to you that you are Peter (petros - a stone), and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of hell shall not overpower it."

"Upon this rock..." Jesus used the word petra... meaning BEDROCK! This revelation given by the Father to Peter, this revelation of Jesus Christ not only became a sure foundation within Peter, but it became the very foundation on which Jesus would build His Church. It is such a sure foundation that all hell can not overcome it!

Bedrock is the geological term refers to the base of solid rock that underlies looser materials of the earth's surface... an unbroken, firm foundation.

"Everyone who hears My words and does them may be compared to a wise man who dug deep and laid a foundation on "bedrock"; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and slammed against the house; yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on "the bedrock." Lu 6:48

"All drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual "bedrock" which followed them; and the "bedrock" was Christ." 1 Cor 10:4

Paul said... "according to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder, I laid a foundation... no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 3:10

"says the Lord God, Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone FOR THE FOUNDATION" Is 28:16

Peter was renamed "stone" when the foundation of Jesus Christ was laid within him. He then grew and was built up into a "pillar" of the Body of Christ - the church. Galatians 2:9 He grew to become a strong supporting structure... as we all should be:

"as the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the Truth." 1 Tim 3:15

It is fascinating to watch Peter's maturation through the scriptures... his transformation from a "stone" to a "pillar"... It is also comforting to view the abounding grace that the Lord extended.

Early Peter of the Gospels is anything but "a rock". He was impulsive, rash, unstable and at times ruthless; bold but with an uncontrolled temper. He moved from one extreme to another. He was slow to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom. He vacillated between courage and cowardice. At this same time, however, he was a zealous preacher of the truth.

After three years, Peter of the Book of Acts has done some growing... not exactly the "pillar" yet but well on his way in the transforming process. He was firm, courageous and still bold. He had become the recognized leader of the apostles and was an energetic and articulate preacher. He was a strong man of prayer. His strengths had been strengthened and his weaknesses tempered and changed. He was humble. He denied self promotion. He was ready to embrace suffering. He was used in miracles, signs and wonders. He was subordinate to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, he still sought to please man at times and was confronted by Paul for being hypocritical in the face of "important men"... Galatians 2:11-13

Some twelve years later, Peter lives as a pillar to the church and to the truth. He is fulfilling the instructions of Jesus: "Feed My lambs", "Take care of, shepherd My sheep", "feed, pasture My sheep". Peter's epistles reveal now his great love for "the sheep". He has become the "Apostle of Hope". The pillar was now patient, loving, strong, confident, fearless, wise and even more humble. Now Peter built up, edified, held up, supported the Body of Christ. He was an upright, supporting part of the people of the kingdom of God ~ which is the church.

I wonder if he was thinking of his own transformed life when he bid us:

"be hungry, long for the pure Word, so that by it you may grow... you also as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house..." l Pet 2:6

Paul said it this way:

"you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (which is) Jesus Christ Himself the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord." Eph 2:20

BE BUILT UPON THE SAME SURE FOUNDATION THAT PETER WAS ~ THE SAME FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS WERE BUILT, PETRA ~ BEDROCK... JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF!

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